Publication Ethics

The Pak Advances in Engineering Research Journal (PAERJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity in all aspects of its publishing process. The journal adheres to the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and ensures that ethical guidelines are followed by authors, reviewers, and editors. This publication ethics policy outlines the responsibilities of each party involved in the publishing process and ensures that the research published in PAERJ is of the highest quality and integrity.

Key Aspects of the Publication Ethics:

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors:

   • Originality: Authors must submit original manuscripts and ensure that their work has not been previously published elsewhere or is under consideration for publication by another journal. If portions of the manuscript have been previously published or presented elsewhere, they must be properly cited.
   • Authorship: All individuals who have made significant contributions to the manuscript must be listed as authors. The order of authorship should be agreed upon by all authors, and the final manuscript should be approved by all authors before submission.
   • Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that may influence the content of the manuscript. This includes funding sources, institutional affiliations, and any other relationships that could affect the interpretation of the research.
   • Ethical Approval: If the manuscript involves human or animal subjects, authors must ensure that they have obtained ethical approval from the relevant institutional review boards or ethics committees. Informed consent must be obtained from human participants where applicable.
   • Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that the data presented in their manuscript is accurate, and any errors or inaccuracies must be corrected promptly. Fabrication or falsification of data is strictly prohibited.
   • Citations: Authors must properly cite all sources of information, data, and ideas that are not their own. Any content that is borrowed from other works (e.g., figures, tables, or substantial text) must be clearly referenced.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers:

   • Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscript they are reviewing and not share any details with others or use the content for personal or professional gain.
   • Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted in an unbiased manner, focusing on the quality and relevance of the manuscript. Reviewers should evaluate the work based solely on its scientific merit and not on personal biases or relationships with the authors.
   • Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their review in a timely manner. If they are unable to meet the deadline, they must notify the editor as soon as possible so that alternative reviewers can be found.
   • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their impartiality in evaluating the manuscript. If a conflict exists, the reviewer should recuse themselves from the review process.
   • Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide constructive and clear feedback to help the authors improve their manuscript. Reviews should be professional, objective, and respectful.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors:

   • Fairness: Editors are responsible for ensuring that all manuscripts are reviewed fairly and impartially. Manuscripts are evaluated based on their scientific quality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and potential contribution to the field, without bias towards the authors.
   • Confidentiality: Editors must keep the details of all manuscripts and their evaluation confidential. The identities of the authors and reviewers should not be disclosed to anyone not directly involved in the publication process.
   • Decision Making: Editors make the final decision on whether a manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected. They are responsible for communicating the decision to the authors and providing feedback based on the reviewers’ recommendations.
   • Conflict of Interest: Editors must declare any conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality in the decision-making process. They should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.
   • Publication Ethics: Editors must address ethical issues such as plagiarism, authorship disputes, and data fabrication. They should take immediate action if any ethical violations are detected, including rejecting the manuscript or retracting a published article if necessary.
   • Transparency: Editors should ensure that the peer review process is transparent, and they should communicate with authors about the status of their manuscript and the process it is undergoing.

4. Handling of Ethical Violations:

   • PAERJ takes ethical violations seriously. Allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, or any other form of research malpractice, will be thoroughly investigated.
   • If plagiarism or other unethical practices are detected, the manuscript will be rejected or retracted, and the authors will be informed of the issue. In serious cases, the author’s institution may be notified.
   • Authors are encouraged to report any unethical practices they may encounter during the review process to the editorial team.

5. Post-Publication Corrections and Retractions:

   • If significant errors are found in a published article, such as factual inaccuracies, misinterpretations, or breaches of ethical standards, the authors must work with the editorial team to correct these errors.
   • In the case of major ethical violations or irreparable errors, the article may be retracted, and a retraction notice will be published. This ensures the integrity of the academic record.
   • Corrections, retractions, and updates to articles will be clearly communicated and made publicly available to maintain transparency.

6. Commitment to Open Access and Accessibility:

   • As an open-access journal, PAERJ ensures that all published content is freely accessible to anyone, allowing for global dissemination of engineering research.
   • Authors retain copyright over their work, and PAERJ provides a platform for them to share their research openly, with the appropriate licenses and acknowledgments.

By adhering to these ethical guidelines, PAERJ maintains a high standard of quality and integrity in its publications, promoting the dissemination of reliable, original research in engineering and fostering an ethical research environment.